TINY update, just for you, JAN !

 My exuberance has been dimmed a bit by two TINY factors.

Firstly, the SewSteady extension table that was a bonus in this deal (the Jazz 2 purchase) is being custom made to fit, and should arrive sometime within the next 4 to 6 weeks.  That's no biggie, as I don't have anything fairly big to quilt right now....still haven't come up with backings to please me.

Secondly, the day AFTER I ordered my Jazzy, I received, unexpectedly, without fore-knowledge, a HUGE box, via FedEx, which contained TWO commissions. 

Now, I RARELY take on commissions anymore.  I've reached an age where I feel that I'll be doing good to finish HALF of the projects that I'd like to do.  BUT........this is a most special request;  I've spoken of Jodie Ann before (what I called her).  JoAnn was one of my two best friends in Oklahoma, and remained so even after I came back here to Tennessee.  Sadly, about a year after my husband passed away , Jodie also succumbed to a lingering illness.  I have since finished one quilt

  for her husband, after her daughter (Jen) sent me a box of her fabrics PLUS one quilt top that she requested that I quilt, saying that it would really please her dad.    So, okay, for Gary, who always cooked for our weekend quilt-athons at their house.  

Well, this time, one of the projects is one that I can remember her starting probably 25-30 years ago. (We pretty much raised our girls together from 10 years old, through college days). Her daughter loves sunflowers, and Jo got this pattern from Mountain Mist. 

 She started it, marked off and cut out most of the pieces, marked the backgrounds for applique placement, sometimes IN VERY DARK PENCIL, and finished around 3-4 blocks. 

 Okay, again, I know how badly she wanted to give this to Jen, so, I've taken it on.  OH MY GOODNESS......all these petals and pointy leaves !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  March on, Dolly girl !

But, the second project is a modern thing that I've never seen before, and feel no calling to further along.  So I returned that one today, sending it off with (friendly ?) instructions to NOT send me things without prior approval, and basically, that I'm NOT taking commissions. 

So.......being the person that I am........that is, a person that can't have a commission and then NOT WORK ON IT CONSTANTLY UNTIL IT IS FINISHED, I haven't really felt that I could take the time to even play with Jazzy a little bit.   Other than familiarizing myself with her basics, upon unpackaging, she's just languishing in my sewing room, lending a bit of updated class.  Ha !   

 Seriously,........our time will come, and it will be grand.  So, that's what's new around here.  

I Hope (yes, Jan, I HOPE) to have more to tell you soon.  But this project looks like WEEKS !  Are WEEKS considered soon?  As fast as my days now pass, I think so.  

Love to you ALL !  Keep HOPE alive ! 

*****

Coming soon, maybe, my opinion of the new Quilters' Select rulers I've been purchasing, latest of which I haven't had a chance to use EITHER !

BREAKING NEWS : I got my BabyLock JAZZ II today !

 SewingMachinesPlus offered a sweeeeeet package to go along with the already good price on the Jazz 2 by BabyLock.   They're one of the few online dealers that I have found who have been able to consistently get more stock of this sweet thang !

 So, like I said before, I bit, and today she arrived.  I've only played with her for about an hour, but things are looking very good !  I can hardly wait to get a sizable quilt basted, and really give this girl a try !  

 Hope to keep you all updated ! 

1 Finish, 1 Start

 Our church secretary retired, such a giving heart that gal has, and I gifted this quilt to her.

Disappearing 4-patch, machine-pieced, hand-quilted, around 50 inches square maybe.  I call them Church-Lap quilts.

 

Pieced the week of July 4th, a quick strip-like quilt .  Hope to machine-quilt it on the new Jazz 2.....gotta come up with a back first !   Measures about 56 x 81.

 

***Note of reminder: today, July 8th, 2021, I received a box from Gary G. with 2 unfinished quilt tops to be completed, including the Sunflower quilt.

I DID IT ! Jazz II ordered !

 SewingMachinesPlus.com made a special offer this week, including a package with the Jazz 2 that includes an 18 x 24 inch SewSteady extension table.  

 

I think that that was the closer for me.  I've been looking at that machine for around 2 years now, including seeing it in person closer to home.  But the near-local dealer continues to be out of stock on it, and I was hesitant to get it via the internet.  But.........hey, I prayed about it, and pulled the trigger !

I'm hoping that the throat space being twice the size of my old Singer 15-91 will make my machine-quilting a much more pleasant experience......less of an arm workout !  I've saved quite a bit of money by dropping cable and going to Roku TV, so I think that this is a suitable cable replacement for me !  

Ooh,......I can hardly wait !  I hope to update you soon ~!~